CA-3072899-C - CORROSION INHIBITORS FOR OILFIELD APPLICATIONS

Abstract

A corrosion inhibitor active and method for reducing corrosion of a metal surface in contact with a corrosive environment is disclosed. The corrosion inhibitor active is an organic sulfonated compound that is derived from the sulfonation of one or more carboxylic acids, internal olefins, or alpha-olefins having a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms. The method of reducing corrosion includes contacting the metal surface with an effective amount of the corrosion inhibitor active. The corrosion inhibitor active is useful in high temperature corrosive environments, such as those found in oil and gas operations.

Inventors

• Alla Crabtree
• LAURA WHITLOCK

Assignees

• STEPAN COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20180905

Priority Date

20170907

Claims (1)

1. THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FOR WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: 1. A method of treating a metal surface in a corrosive environment to decrease corrosion of the metal surface, the method comprising: introducing a corrosion inhibitor composition into a corrosive environment in contact with the metal surface in an amount effective to decrease corrosion of the metal surface, wherein the corrosion inhibitor composition comprises: (a) from 10% to 50% by weight of a sulfonated corrosion inhibitor active selected from (i) internal olefin sulfonates having carbon chains, at least 80% by weight of which have a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, (ii) alpha sulfonated fatty acid esters having carbon chains, at least 80% by weight of which have a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, (iii) alpha-olefin sulfonates having carbon chains, at least 80% by weight of which have a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, and (iv) sulfonated fatty acid salts having carbon chains, at least 80% by weight of which have a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms; (b) from 0% to 40% by weight of at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds, phosphate esters, amines, amides, imidazolines, mercaptans, hydrate inhibitors, scale inhibitors, biocides, demulsifiers, oxygen scavengers, and combinations thereof; and (c) solvent to total 100% of the composition. 14 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-08-08 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective amount of the sulfonate corrosion inhibitor active is from about 10 ppm to about 200 ppm, based on a total volume of the corrosive environment. 3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the corrosive environment is at a temperature of at least 250°F (121 °C). 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the corrosive environment is at a temperature of about 250°F (121 °C) to about 400°F (204°C). 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the corrosive environment is part of an oilfield operation. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the corrosive environment is part of an offshore well. 7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the corrosive environment comprises carbon dioxide. 8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the corrosive environment comprises hydrogen sulfide. 9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and combinations thereof. Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-08-08 10. A method for reducing corrosion of a metal surface in contact with a corrosive environment comprising: (a) introducing into the corrosive environment an effective amount of a corrosion inhibitor composition comprising (a) from 10 wt% to 50 wt% of at least one sulfonate corrosion inhibitor active derived from one or more carboxylic acids, internal olefins, or alpha olefins, having carbon chains wherein at least 80% by weight of the carbon chains have a length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, wherein the sulfonate corrosion inhibitor active is selected from the group consisting of (i) internal olefin sulfonates; (ii) alpha olefin sulfonates; (iii) alpha-sulfonated fatty acid esters; and (iv) sulfonated carboxylic acid salts; (b) from 0% to 40% by weight of at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds, phosphate esters, amines, amides, imidazolines, mercaptans, hydrate inhibitors, scale inhibitors, biocides, demulsifiers, oxygen scavengers, and combinations thereof; and (c) solvent to total 100% of the composition; wherein the sulfonate corrosion inhibitor active reduces corrosion of the metal surface in the corrosive environment compared to a corrosive environment that does not contain the sulfonate corrosion inhibitor active. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the effective amount is from about 10 ppm to about 200 ppm based on a total volume of the corrosive environment. 12. The method of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, 16 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-08-08 isobutanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and combinations thereof. 13. Use of an organic sulfonate compound as a corrosion inhibitor active, wherein the organic sulfonate com pound is derived from one or more carboxylic acids, internal olefins, or alpha olefins, having a carbon chains wherein at least 80% by weight of the carbon chains have a length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, and is selected from the group consisting of (i) internal olefin sulfonates; (ii) alpha olefin sulfonates; (iii) alpha-sulfonated alkyl esters; and (iv) sulfonated carboxylic acid salts. 14. A corrosion inhibitor composition comprising: (a) from about 10 wt % to about 50 wt% of a sulfonate corrosion inhibitor active selected from (i) internal olefin sulfonates having carbon chains, at least 80% by weight of which have a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, (ii) alpha sulfonated fatty acid esters having carbon chains, at least 80% by weight of which have a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, (iii) alpha-olefin sulfonates having carbon chains, at least 80% by weight of which have a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, and (iv) sulfonated fatty acid salts having carbon chains, at least 80% by weight of which have a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms; (b) from 0% to 40% by weight of at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds, phosphate esters, amines, amides, imidazolines, mercaptans, hydrate inhibitors, scale 17 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-08-08 inhibitors, biocides, demulsifiers, oxygen scavengers, and combinations thereof; and (c) solvent in an amount to total 100% of the composition. 15. The corrosion inhibitor composition of claim 14, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and combinations thereof. 18 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-08-08

Description

Corrosion Inhibitors for Oilfield Applications BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [1] The present technology relates to a method for inhibiting corrosion of metal surfaces within a corrosive environment, particularly environments that exhibit high temperature and pressure conditions, such as those present in oilfield operations. In particular, the present technology relates to the use of particular organic sultanates as corrosion inhibitor actives to mitigate corrosion in oilfield applications. [2] Corrosion of metal surfaces has been a well-known problem in the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas systems are typically exposed to a variety of corrosive agents, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and brines of different salinities during the production, or acids during stimulation. These corrosive agents cause oxidation, deterioration, and/or general loss of metal from oil and gas system equipment, such as piping, tubing, and other metallic equipment or tools used in subterranean formations, as well as in surface operations. Corrosion of metal surfaces in off-shore or deep-sea operations is even more troublesome due to the difficulty in replacing corroded metal equipment in such operations. [3] A number of corrosion inhibitors have been developed to reduce or prevent metal corrosion in oil and gas production equipment. Corrosion inhibitors are typically blends of various chemicals in an appropriate solvent package. Common corrosion inhibitor actives include phosphate esters, dimer/trimer fatty acids, mercaptans, amines, and condensation products of fatty acids with polyamines, such as quaternary ammonium compounds and imidazolines. One drawback of some of these corrosion 1 WO 2019/050909 PCT/0S2018/049494 inhibitor actives is that they have not been satisfactory under high temperature greater than about 250°F (121 °C). [4] There is therefore a need for improved corrosion inhibitor actives that can decrease corrosion of metals in oil and gas production equipment. It would also be desirable to employ corrosion inhibitors that are stable at temperatures of 250°F (121 °C) or greater. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [5] In one aspect, the present technology is directed to a method of treating a metal surface exposed to a corrosive environment to decrease corrosion of the metal surface by introducing a sultanate corrosion inhibitor active into a corrosive environment in contact with the metal surface, in an amount effective to decrease corrosion of the metal surface, wherein the sultanate corrosion inhibitor active is selected from internal olefin sultanates having a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, alpha sulfonated fatty acid esters having a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, alpha-olefin sultanates having a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, and sulfonated fatty acid salts having an average carbon chain length of at least 15 carbon atoms. [6] In a further aspect, the present technology is directed to the use of sulfonated organic compounds as corrosion inhibitor actives, wherein the sulfonated compounds are derived from one or more carboxylic acids, internal olefins, or alpha olefins having a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms, and are selected from the group consisting of (i) internal olefin sultanates; (ii) alpha olefin sultanates; (iii) alphasulfonated fatty acid esters; and (iv) sulfonated carboxylic acid salts. 2 WO 2019/050909 PCT/0S2018/049494 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [7] The present technology relates to the discovery of organic sulfonated compounds that can be effectively used as corrosion inhibitor actives to mitigate corrosion of a metal surface exposed to a corrosive environment. The corrosion inhibitor actives are particularly useful for decreasing corrosion of metal surfaces found in oilfield operations. [8] As used herein, "corrosion" means the deterioration of a material as a result of chemical interactions between it and the surrounding environment. The chemical interactions may be caused by exposure to corrosive substances, such as acids, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and brines of different salinities. [9] As used herein, a "corrosive environment" means any environment that, due to the presence of corrosive substances, may result in the corrosion of a material. [1 0] As used herein, a "corrosion inhibitor active" is a chemical compound that effectively decreases the corrosion rate of a metal or alloy thereof. A "corrosion inhibitor" is a formulated product comprising or consisting of several corrosion inhibitor actives. [11] The corrosion inhibitor actives of the present technology are particular organic sulfonated compounds that are derived from the sulfonation of internal olefins, alpha olefins, or fatty acid feedstocks. These sulfonated compounds include internal olefin sultanates, alpha olefin sultanates, alpha sulfonated fatty acid esters and/or salts thereof, and sulfonated unsaturated fatty acid salts. 3 WO 2019/050909 PCT/